PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John McKenna (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Mantell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mantell has chosen Macho Madness as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

McKenna
vs
Mantell

185 cm
20
198 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Hell's Kitchen Lab Corp

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, John McKenna!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Randy Mantell!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Kavanagh and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McKenna lands with a kick to the temple. Mantell shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Randy Mantell has been cut.
Mantell lands with a cross.
McKenna defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mantell.
McKenna misses with a takedown attempt - Mantell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

McKenna throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Mantell was covering up waiting for the punch and McKenna finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Mantell pulls McKenna in close to prevent any damage.
Mantell is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McKenna is controlling him.
Mantell controlling McKenna's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKenna won't allow Mantell to sweep him here.
McKenna trying to control the position from guard on top but Mantell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McKenna would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
McKenna slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
McKenna stopping the sweep attempt from Mantell.
Mantell pulls McKenna in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
McKenna trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McKenna stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mantell swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Mantell shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
McKenna tries to get to full guard but Mantell has control of the leg.
Mantell looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
McKenna has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mantell is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McKenna looking for submissions off his back.

Mantell seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead McKenna has recovered full guard.
Mantell looks gassed!
McKenna wants to sweep but no luck.
McKenna is pulling down on Mantell's head. It's preventing any offense from Mantell, at least for the moment.
Mantell is looking to work some ground and pound but McKenna has wrist control.
Mantell looking to pass the guard.
McKenna trying to keep a closed guard but Mantell is proving a slippery customer.
McKenna knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mantell on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Mantell advances to half guard.
McKenna trying to control from the bottom.
Mantell throwing shots but McKenna is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mantell prevents McKenna from improving his position.
Mantell working over McKenna with some ground and pound. McKenna looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Mantell not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mantell seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Mantell's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that John McKenna will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Randy Mantell's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Mantell fails with the takedown

and McKenna decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mantell's guard.
Mantell looking for a sweep. Not yet Mantell, not yet.
McKenna has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mantell is on top in guard.
McKenna controls Mantell momentarily but Mantell frees himself.
Mantell is looking to work some ground and pound but McKenna has wrist control.
McKenna looking for a sweep. Not yet McKenna, not yet.
Mantell is breathing heavily.
McKenna is trying to control the position but Mantell postures up.
McKenna keeping moving, preventing Mantell from controlling successfully.
McKenna tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantell trying to control the position from guard on top but McKenna is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McKenna looking to control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Mantell fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. McKenna sprawls well initially but Mantell persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Mantell is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
McKenna looks like he's trying to stand up.
Still in half guard, Mantell seems content to control.
Mantell is thwarting McKenna's attempts to control the position.
McKenna is refusing to be controlled, as Mantell sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKenna wants to control but Mantell is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mantell moves into full mount! McKenna won't be happy about that!

Mantell get's back to his feet.
McKenna lands a jab to Mantell's midsection.
McKenna has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
McKenna throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Mantell shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches McKenna napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Mantell tries to move to mount but McKenna blocks the move with his legs.

Mantell is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, McKenna has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mantell trying to control the action but McKenna is working from the bottom.
McKenna is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Mantell is controlling him well.
Mantell takes a little break here. McKenna wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Mantell scoring with punches from side control.
Mantell wants to control but McKenna is keeping him busy.
McKenna is looking to regain half guard here but Mantell keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

McKenna gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mantell to score an easy takedown into full guard.
McKenna is controlling Mantell's posture.
McKenna preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mantell prevents McKenna from getting back to his feet.
McKenna trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
McKenna can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mantell controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Mantell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Randy Mantell's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Mantell stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mantell wants it to stay on the feet.
Mantell circles away from the clinch attempt.
McKenna shoots in but Mantell avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Mantell drives through with a takedown into guard.
McKenna wants to get back to his feet but Mantell is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mantell is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mantell sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed McKenna's guard.
Mantell controlling the action here.
Mantell missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McKenna is trying to stand up here but Mantell is controlling him well.
Mantell moves into full mount! McKenna won't be happy about that!
Mantell looking to control and managing it successfully.
McKenna is trying to escape the mount.
Mantell takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Mantell looking to control but McKenna is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Randy Mantell just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McKenna pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Mantell looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Mantell is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Mantell showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
McKenna keeping moving, preventing Mantell from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mantell stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McKenna swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mantell trying to control the position from guard on top but McKenna is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mantell accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mantell trying to control but McKenna is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mantell slaps away a takedown attempt from McKenna, before circling back to the center of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Mantell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mantell has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randy Mantell!